There's something about the humble blueberry that makes people think of West Michigan summers: picnics at the beach, family reunions, concerts in the park and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

You might even go so far as to call the blueberry the "jewel" of West Michigan. People are that extravagant in their praise of this juicy, flavorful, healthy, deep blue fruit.

Tiffany Balk loves them so much she started Blueberry Haven, a food gift products business that is about "beaches, berries and bliss."

The idea has blossomed about a year ago.

Balk and her husband Steve and their sons Keegan, Campbell and Cayce were returning to their home in West Olive from a vacation with friends. "We wanted to send them something that was typically Michigan, she said.

Chronicle/Ken StevensTiffany Balk is owner of Blueberry Haven in Grand Haven that features blueberry products including blueberry granola mix, muffin mix, and snack mix, left to right. Enlarge photo

Balk thought they were all good ideas for products, and she couldn't find anyone else making them locally.

She began a search of area blueberry farms to check out local farmers' products.

"There were lots of fresh blueberries," she said, but not much else.

She began visualizing possibilities, presented in packaging that would be "young and hip." Ideas flooded her mind. She thought of shirts with blueberry designs, many featuring her chosen logo -- a sandpiper with a blueberry in its beak.

Blueberry Haven was born.

Then came the work of developing the business -- seeing a banker, a lawyer, the people and businesses that would be her suppliers.

She saw a banker friend about financing. "He said it's a really good idea. 'If you don't do this, I think I will,' he said."

She called on Elegance of the Seasons, a catering and bake shop in downtown Grand Haven, a place that had the required commercial kitchen and was ready to work with her in the new business.

"We make all the mixes and jams. This is our cup of tea," said shop co-owner Michelle Dolby. "We are so focused on Michigan products."

Balk met with North Muskegon artist Lori McElrath-Eslick, who designed postcards with a painting featuring the surf and sand, a sandpiper and some bouncy, fanciful blueberries. "Just talking with Tiffany, I knew what she wanted," McElrath-Eslick said.

She saw a wooden bowl maker in Holland, because wooden bowls were to be the containers for gift "baskets." Blueberry Haven is stamped on each bowl.

"Oh honey, I think you've got something here," the woodworker told her, and then recommended her products to a friend who owns a Holland business, which immediately bought a large amount and soon re-ordered.

Balk saw printers for the labels and a shop that silk-screens the T-shirts. Balk, a Hope College graduate, called on a number of Hope "buddies" who were in local businesses, she said.

Marketing Blueberry Haven meant visiting area shops that would carry her products.

"All of the places I went, somebody has told me to go there," she said.

The blueberry growing season, just a few months long, was not a deterrent, since frozen blueberries are available year-round. She is able to buy them in quantity from a Holland supplier.

Blueberry Haven's reputation is spreading. It will soon be featured in Food for Thought, a new Grand Rapids magazine, and several months ago Balk was named one of the "Moms Who Do Cool Things" at the Hot Mama store in East Grand Rapids.

Blueberry Haven products are available at the following places.

• Maggie's Gourmet Foods and Gifts, Muskegon

• Buffalo Bob's, Grand Haven

• Fortino's, Grand Haven

• Papers Plus, East Grand Rapids

• Shaker Messenger Art Folk Gallery, Holland

• Grand River Grocery, Ada

• Kennedy's Floral Shop, Cascade

• Cathy's Hallmark, Rockford

• Art of the Table, Grand Rapids.

• Tiffany Balk will appear with samples of her products at Art of the Table in Grand Rapids, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.